I see there is a pair of 400kv cabes there too, they look no higher than the lighting columns

400KV can jump up too 3M so i would NOT like to be the person re-lamping those MAs!

The new columns going in are the ones you use a jack for - Kev knows them well!

I wonder if the electromagnetic field would cause the SOX lamp to Glow like the Fluorescent Tube, here in Liverpool where there is Electricity Pylons all the Columns are either CU-Phosco Mid Hinged, and Abacus Raising/Lowering Columns, th e CU-Phosco Mid Hinged are easier to service as the engineer uses a Rope to lower the Lantern (see-saw method) where the Abacus Columns require a Hydraulic Jack/Ram to lower the complete Column

Very interesting point Colin!! I'd love to disconnect these and watch for any little shimmers of red during darkness.....

I would have thought not. The UV created by the mercury vapour arc for the phosphor to glow in a fluorescent tube wouldn't be present in an SO lamp, neither would the phosphor.

I actually thought the electromagtic field is what causes Fluorescent tubes to Glow as it excites the argon gas, also if you stand under a pylon with a Volt stick it too lights up, as SOX Lamps have a neon/argon Gas mixture in the Arc Tube I thought it might work giving a pinkish/red glow, altermitavely is to hold a 18 or 35w SOX lamp under the HT cables of a Pylon and see if it would glow

Perhaps Tom & I will have to give it a try and let you know how we get on!

We tried it - not even a flicker! Tom & I wondered if the IR coating in the lamp may block some of the field? Anyway - think I have found a way to get closer to these bad boys, so will try again in the near future!

Sadly these lanterns and columns have been executed.

Oh no Paul by LEDs?

Luckily not, Urbis Sapphire SON lanterns. Still a shame they have gone though.

It is indeed

Philips MA60s gear in head were common in Ireland